§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will arrange for a complete geological survey of the Falkland Islands and dependencies, with particular reference to oil.
§ Mr. MulleyIn view of information already available on the Falkland Islands it is not considered necessary for a new geological survey to be undertaken since it is unlikely that, even with the use of modern techniques, it would reveal any valuable mineral deposits.
Oil is most unlikely to be found in the Falkland Islands Dependencies. The South Sandwich Islands are entirely volcanic and some volcanoes are active now. Many geological surveys have been undertaken in South Georgia since 1913 and reports are available. The British Antarctic Survey is at the present moment undertaking a large scale geological survey in that island.